Tag Archives: Harry Potter

The Year that Was – 2013 Politics

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It’s been an interesting year in politics, and I thought I’d do it by the numbers.

Harry Potter references: 2

“Neither can live while the other survives” – Mark Simkin, said during a live cross to Parliament House explaining that whoever lost the leadership spill in June (it was Julia) was not going to stay in politics in the following election.

“It’s like in the Harry Potter novels….Dolores Umbridge is now in charge” – Tony Burke, made during a speech congratulating Bronwyn Bishop on her election into the Speaker’s chair.

ALP Spills: 3

#1: Courtesy of Simon Crean, the first spill of the year, in March, was essentially a non-spill, because Kevin didn’t put his hand up and Julia Gillard remained the PM.

#2: Julia Gillard got sick of the rumours and called a spill, with the loser leaving politics at the next election. Kevin Rudd won, and Julia kept her word.

#3: Post election, the ALP had a spill for leader, this time not only with caucus but also rank-and-file members of the ALP. In what was a slightly insane and complicated spill, Bill Shorten became Opposition leader.

Federal Elections: 1

Thank god there was only one of these – I think we would’ve gone mental if there were more. In short, Tony Abbott and the Coalition won. Now we’re get to wait for 3 years!

Backflips: 1

Artfully named the “Quadruple Gonski Backflip” by ABCNews23 (NOT 24) on Twitter, it charts the Coalitions position on the “Gonski Reforms” – reforms to the education system. First they didn’t like it, then they were ok with it and would carry it on, then after the election they said they were going to renegotiate. After getting into trouble from lots of parents, they said they would support it.

Threats of a Double Dissolution: 1

Tony Abbott began threatening this before he even won the election. He suggested that if the Carbon Tax was not repealed, he would ask for a double dissolution so he could try to control the Senate – although it appears that recently, someone has (maybe) told him it could backfire because he hasn’t made that threat in a while…

Ballot Recounts: 3

#1: Indi (VIC) – to double-check the numbers – Cathy McGowan, an independent, won the seat of Sophie Mirabella.

#2: Faifax (QLD) – again to double-check the numbers – Clive Palmer, billionaire mining magnate and dinosaur park owner, won the seat.

#3: West Australia – the Senate results were so close, there was a recount – which didn’t end too well (see below)

Magical appearances/vanishing of ballot papers: 2

Appearance: Due to a clerical error, a container/box of ballot papers in Indi were discovered to have 1000, not 100 papers inside, which help Cathy McGowan in Indi win the seat.

Vanishing: Somehow, somewhere, 1,300 Senate ballot papers in Western Australia vanished and were never seen again. It changed the result of the Senate and is possibly the subject of a High Court challenge.

I hope you all have a lovely new year.

The Week That Was – November 10 to November 16

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This week was always going to be interesting, given that Parliament started, but no-one knew how much so until Kevin Rudd decided to quit – but I’ll get to that in a little bit.

The week began with the first day of parliament on Tuesday. Politicians were sworn in and Bronwyn Bishop was elected as Speaker. She’s known to have a well-thumbed copy of the rules and it seems that Labor is not happy about it.

Yep. Tony Burke just likened parliament to Hogwarts after Dumbledore’s Army was discovered and Dumbledore took the blame, escaping arrest, leaving Dolores Umbridge as Headmistress of Hogwarts (the end of chapter 27 and the start of chapter 28 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). I have to admit it was funny.

Tony Abbott said in his speech to parliament that he wanted a Parliament where there would be no character assassinations, which had the Opposition cracking up. Why? Well, when he was in opposition, he did exactly that, particularly when Julia Gillard was PM.

Speaking of those who are no longer Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd decided it was time to retire from politics. He says he wants to spend more time with his family. Here is his speech, and as expected, it’s 15 minutes long.

Tony Abbott says there will be no rush to give Rudd a job, but I think he was staying in parliament until he found one himself. I’d say he probably has one and that is why he’s quitting. Mind you, Antony Green thinks it’ll be a while before a by-election can be held.

There have also been the usual tributes and looking back at Rudd’s political career. This is from the ABC.

And this one, also from the ABC is a look at all his strange gestures (in gif form). They give credit to Annabel Crabb and Mary Hamilton for the idea. Here is one of Annabel Crabb’s pieces from 2009 in the SMH and this is Mary Hamilton’s collection of gifs.

Well, other than that, Tony Abbott has been in Sri Lanka for CHOGM. So that’s this week for you.

Quotes of the Week

“This chamber should always be a place of spirited debate, but it should never be a place where motives are impugned or characters assassinated” – Tony Abbott. (Glass houses and throwing stones?)

“When they all return to Hogwarts, Dumbledore is gone and Dolores Umbridge is now in charge of the school,” Tony Burke, making his Harry Potter reference.

Tweet of the Week

This is in reference to the Sri Lankan asylum seeker saga.

https://twitter.com/natalietran/status/401529441332908032

https://twitter.com/natalietran/status/401530092838346753

Leadership Spill – 7:54pm

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7:00 – ABC News begins with National Version with Leigh Sales – Local News.

Mark Simkin made a Harry Potter quote – “neither can live while the other survives”

In the day’s other political news – Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor are leaving politics – both for personal reasons – though Tony Windsor says he’s not well – that’s a given – this parliament was stressful to the extreme.

7:08pm – Local news bulletins – Seems a bit rushed, and my reception is a little dodgy…Oh well.

7:18pm – back to the National coverage. Turns out Julia announced the ballot and she set conditions. If you want to be leader, you put your name up. You win, you are PM and Labor leader, you lose, you retire from politics at the next election.

Mark Simkin and Chris Uhlmann think Kevin will win. Phones are ringing behind them and they are holding their phones. Interesting fact: If Julia loses and send the letter to the Governor General resigning but doesn’t say that Kevin should take her place – we have a Constitutional Crisis – maybe.

Terrible jokes about Chris Uhlmann being hung up on by a member of Caucus. No news yet, obviously.

Christopher Pyne and Tony Abbott are being pains in the neck. Julia complains about the fact that she’s being attacked internally within the party.

ABC News 24 geoblock has been lifted

7:35 – still waiting. Barrie Cassidy has Gillard supporters texting him – they say it’s against them.

7:40 – Antony Green on how the electorate would vote under Kevin, hypothetical question asked by Neilson poll last week. Some seats in NSW in danger, but we all knew that.

7:45 – Coalition about to hold a party meeting in Canberra. Now getting a look at a Liberal anti-Labor ad

7:49 – Back to Uhlmann and Simkin – still no news. Barrie Cassidy has no news either.

7:50 – On another note, Adam Hills Tonight is meant to be having a Princess Bride themed episode! Hope they sort themselves out soon!

7:52 – Here comes the returning officer!! And the Winner is….Kevin Rudd!